The story behind Carbonated Audio
Carbonated Audio started with a simple frustration: every saturation plugin I loved was either $150+ or locked behind a subscription. I'm a producer and mixing engineer — I know what analog warmth sounds like. I also know what it's like to check your bank account after buying plugins.
So I built Carbonator. Not a stripped-down "budget" version of something better — a plugin designed from scratch to do one thing incredibly well: give your tracks instant analog character.
The 5 flavors aren't presets or marketing gimmicks. Each one is a different DSP circuit model — Cola is console-style, Cherry is tube, Grape is lo-fi, Lemon-Lime is bright harmonics, Orange Cream is tape. Real saturation algorithms, not just EQ curves with drive.
The Fizz knob? That's the whole point. One control that morphs drive, compression, EQ, and makeup gain together. Because the best plugin is the one you actually use — and you'll use it more if it takes 2 seconds to get a great sound.
$20. No subscription. No iLok. No BS. That's the deal.
Every decision starts with "does it sound good?" Not "does it look impressive?" or "can we add more features?" If one knob gets you there, one knob is all you need.
We believe studio-quality sound shouldn't cost studio-quality money. $20 isn't a "budget" compromise — it's a statement that great tools should be accessible.
You buy it, you own it. Forever. Lifetime updates. Up to 3 machines. We'll never hold your music hostage behind a monthly payment.
Carbonator has been covered by leading audio publications.